On third-and-10 from around midfield, Titans wide receiver Darius Jennings sprinted ahead on a go route as three Cowboys defenders closed in on him. Marcus Mariota threw a long pass – one of his prettiest of the season – that hit Jennings perfectly in stride.

This time, he caught it.

That 36-yard play on "Monday Night Football" looked similar to a Mariota-to-Jennings pass in Week 4 against the Eagles, only with two major differences: Jennings was wide open on the deep ball against Philly, and he dropped it.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe (19) celebrates as he walks off the field after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, left, celebrates his touchdown run with team mates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs out of the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) falls into the end zone for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Antwaun Woods (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs out of the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs out of the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher (2) attempts a field goal and reacts after missing the shot against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) heads to the end zone for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis (33) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) signs an autograph for a child before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Tennessee Titans tight end MyCole Pruitt (85) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans tight end Anthony Firkser (86) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans tight end Luke Stocker (88) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Tennessee Titans fans walk into the stadium before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

Former NFL player Jason Witten walks on the field before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, right, speaks with former NFL player Jason Witten before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins, AP

Former NFL player Jason Witten and broadcaster is recognized by the Dallas Cowboys before the first half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Michael Ainsworth, AP

"I’m always confident," Jennings said when asked about how much of a boost his long catch was about a month after his crucial drop. "That was probably more of a confidence booster for y’all than it was for me. You feel what I’m saying? What you guys saw Monday is what we get paid to do. When you play this game, there’s going to be drops. But that was like Week 3, Week 4. You’ve got to move on, move forward, and just be ready to produce when your number is called."

Depending on how the rest of the week shape ups, Jennings might have his number called more often when the Titans (4-4) host the Patriots (7-2) on Sunday (noon, CBS) at Nissan Stadium.

Neither Tajae Sharpe nor Taywan Taylor, Tennessee's Nos. 2 and 3 receivers, practiced Thursday. Sharpe is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered during pregame warmups against the Cowboys; he was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice while sporting a taped-up right ankle before being downgraded Thursday. Taylor, who limped off the field with a foot injury against the Cowboys, was a non-participant for the second straight day. He wore a walking boot on his left leg Wednesday but was without it (and walking limp-free) Thursday.

That leaves the Titans with just three healthy receivers – leading receiver Corey Davis, Jennings and Cameron Batson – with a date against a top-two team in the AFC quickly approaching.

The silver lining? Jennings wasn't the only pass-catcher to get something going against the Cowboys.

Batson, a rookie whom the Titans signed as an undrafted free agent in May, had two catches for 21 yards.

"I thought he did a great job coming in and making plays, especially on third down," Mariota said. "Hopefully, that will continue as we go forward. That’s the standard that we hold him up to now. For a young guy, coming in on Monday night, he did a great job."

And tight end Jonnu Smith, who had a painstakingly slow start to the season after being thrust into a more prominent role after the team placed Delanie Walker on injured reserved, had his best offensive performance of the season: two catches, 33 yards, one touchdown.

"I had a solid game," Smith said. "To me, it wasn’t the greatest game, but it was definitely some production that I haven’t had all season and just to continue to build off that, that’s the mindset I’m having right now."

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After his best offensive performance of the season, Titans TE Jonnu Smith offered a playful apology to his fantasy owners for his slow start.
Erik Bacharach, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

For a Titans pass-catching corps that was thin even before being banged up in Dallas, it's the only mindset a player like Smith can afford.

"I have all the confidence in the world in those guys," Mariota said. "We’ve seen it a lot out here in practice... It was awesome to see it done in a game."

Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.

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Ahead of Sunday's matchup between the Patriots and Titans, Marcus Mariota lauded Tom Brady's ability to stay so good for so long in the NFL.
Erik Bacharach, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee